Page 66 of An Assassin's Death
“Yes, sweetheart, you did amazingly well.” He coos at her and I want to vomit in my mouth. Instead, my breathing stays even and unchanged. “When you have her powers, it’ll hurt at first.” He sounds concerned for her even though his words confuse me.
“I can handle it, sir.” Even her serious voice drips with sweetness.
I focus, two people so far. I can make out the voices of Armond and Nala, but the power that crackles around me alludes to more assassins. I need to know how many.
I wonder where the guys are. Will they come for me? Or will they get the hell out? Probably the latter, but a small, selfish part of me hopes for the first.
I care about them enough, however, to hope they take off. There’s enough power inside the church to insure the pain and torture of a thousand deaths, and if Armond has any say in the matter, our deaths won’t be quick and painless. I steel myself now.
“Wake up, Alexa,” Armond demands. “I know you’re conscious. Why do you think you’re awake? Because I let you be. Everything you are is because of me.”
Conceited, arrogant son of a bitch.
I debate faking it for another second but soon feel the unmistakable pinpoints of heat as my flesh beings to burn. Ah, three assassins. Looks like laser eyes couldn’t mind his own business. His power burns through my flesh, slicing through my nerves. As the pain tears through me, I fling my eyes open to stare up into the gleaming gaze of the man who I once fully believed took care of me.
Armond never cared for me at all. He doesn’t care for any of us.
He uses us.
I feel it every time he rips away my power just to fuel his own.
Another burn of heat sears into the flesh at my wrist and a shrieking cry is muffled behind clenched teeth. It’s sad that even now I’ll never show him weakness. I once hid my weaknesses to impress him; now I’m doing it to piss him off.
He crouches low, the long coattails of his inky jacket whisk over the grass and I try hard to focus on the thin blades of grass; anything to distract me from the feel of the power the assassin at my side is pressing into me.
I guess those laser eyes do have some purpose.
“She works best under pressure. Give her a moment, she’ll perform for you.” Armond’s words hold a hint of impatience.
I have to strain to tip my head up, my eyes scanning the darkness. I'm vaguely aware that my mask is now missing but I don't take the time to search for it. My gaze settles on a tall man, his arms folded neatly behind his back. The expensive clothes pressed neatly against his body don’t reflect his features. The bridge of his nose tilts slightly as if it’s been broken at least once before. Probably more. His dark hair nearly bleeds into the night and his attention shifts over my features with a look of complete interest. I feel his energy in the cool air. It’s strong and controlled. It rages with power.
He's the higher power.
“I would think a dose of life may… assist her.” Derek’s careful words are spoken with intent and Armond slowly nods to the man.
The moment Armond’s palm settles over my throat, I feel him pulling at the shreds of life I have left. He tears at it little by little and the lines that crease the corners of his gray eyes smile down on me the entire time.
The more he takes the more I feel of his power. My own energy wraps around his, following his before pulling right back at it. It washes into me in drowning waves that leave me shaking and nauseous from the feel of it.
Of all the power I’ve ever felt, Armond’s is the only one that twists my stomach with disgust, leaves a bitter taste against my tongue, and has my body boiling from the inside out.
I drink it in like it’s the most revitalizing thing I’ve ever felt, but he pulls it back from me the moment my heart starts to pound hard against my chest.
My normal, rational mind doesn’t pause to consider the plan we had so perfectly laid out. It was all supposed to be so simple. Lure Armond out of the room and halt time. I’d hold on to it for as long as my abilities would allow and use my new powers to destroy the man from the inside out.
All in just under sixty seconds.
What the guys didn’t know was the tiny addition I’d tacked on to the end. Rip away Armond’s power and use it to take out this Derek fellow. Prove myself to the guys. Eliminate the threats against us. Neither plan is anywhere to be found now and the power that’s racing rapidly through my veins can’t seem to be stopped.
“Put her energy into our pet.”
Derek nods his head toward Nala and she takes a confident step forward. When I stand with waning strength, I don’t think any of them expected it. Even Captain Laser Eyes over there is astonished.
The moonlight is full and shining across the damp grass, highlighting every headstone within the graveyard that we stand in. The cool winds caress my exposed skin, sending a shiver down my spine. I try hard not to let the ominous setting deter my plans.
With a sharp pull, I drag as much power from Armond into myself as I can. The energy of each assassin he’s siphoned recently flows through my veins. A flash of crimson blinds my sight but I keep my attention trained on the hulking assassin who was so ready to burn my flesh right from the bone.
Heat radiates through me and I feel it exit in waves. Screams and curses are the only sign that I’ve hit my target. The sound of his pain is quickly cut short. The tone of his cries lowers, sounding muffled and repressed. I force the power to a halt and find an odd, electric blue color shimmering just in front of me. I study it for several seconds, pressing my powers against it only to feel a snap of static pain any time my power collides with it. My heels turn against the grass and Derek lowers his hand slowly, taking the force field with him.
